Ukraine army to raise flag over Slavyansk

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/05/ukraine-army-raise-flag-slavyansk

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The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, has ordered the army to raise the national flag in the separatist stronghold of Slavyansk, eastern Ukraine, after hearing reports of military successes, the presidential website said.

Earlier, the interior minister, Arsen Avakov, said a large number of pro-Russian separatists had fled the flashpoint city following sustained fire from Ukrainian forces.

Poroshenko's website said that the newly appointed head of the armed forces general staff had told him separatist fighters came under mortar fire as they tried to break through government forces' lines. The separatists had lost a tank and other armoured vehicles.

"The president gave the order ... for the state flag to be raised on Slavyansk's town council offices," the website said, referring to one of the rebels main bases.